Contact Phone
612-271-4769
With 20 years as a police officer, I’ve gained a unique understanding of community dynamics. I’ve interacted with people from diverse backgrounds during their toughest and best moments, often helping them make critical decisions. I've learned that effective communication and active listening are vital for building trust.
Additionally, I serve on three boards, currently chairing one, and I take these roles seriously. My experience includes mentoring young adults to become professionals and community leaders. Having had two children graduate from ISD 196, I also have insight into the district’s performance over the last two decades.
Prioritize education by reassessing how on-grade standards are delivered, collaborating with educators to ensure every student is prepared for graduation and future success. Ensure safety for all by implementing physical and policy-based security measures in every district building. Focus on fiscal responsibility by evaluating the current budget to maximize spending on learning and meet student needs effectively.
I would carefully distinguish between wants and needs, ensuring that education remains a top priority. While cuts to learning should never be considered, I believe some recently created administrative positions may be viewed as "wants" rather than necessities, warranting close scrutiny. Additionally, a budget should be informed by historical data, drawing insights from past successes to guide effective annual planning. This ensures resources are allocated where they can have the greatest impact.
I would start with a collaborative approach to strengthening the parent-teacher bond, starting with clear and transparent communication between the district and families. Each student requiring additional resources should be assessed individually to maximize their learning potential. Parents need a clear understanding of their children's educational needs and expectations, and should be partnering with the district to support their child's efforts outside of school.
Communication is key! I'm always available for discussions with constituents and staff. Ongoing evaluation for improvement should consider all aspects, both positive and negative. With 20 years of conflict resolution experience, I possess the interpersonal skills needed to tackle challenging issues. I believe solutions come from engaging with those who have experience and those directly impacted by the board’s decisions. This approach ensures that we address the toughest challenges effectively.
I am honored to have been appointed to the District196 School Board this March. In these past few months, I’ve gained invaluable insights and experiences that have fueled my passion to achieve even more in this role. I will continue to leverage my experience in hunger relief, including leading the Hunger Free Schools campaign, to identify and remove barriers to student success. In my area of work and as a Voices for Racial Justice apprentice, I have experience advancing systems level change to address inequities and meet strategic goals. I have a track record of strong collaboration as evidenced by my endorsements from area elected officials, labor representatives including our local teachers union and fellow board members.
Communication: I’ve heard many valid questions from parents and ideas for improvement from students. I’m committed to increasing opportunities for dialogue and student representation.
Staffing: We are seeing an unprecedented number of students facing mental health challenges and a growing need for special education services. It is critical that we have adequate staffing to meet student needs.
Opportunity Gap: To achieve the 196 mission to educate all students, we must close achievement gaps.
At a time when many districts are facing financial challenges, 196 remains on solid footing. We take our responsibility seriously to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and plan for future budget needs. Our strong budget position is also thanks to community investments, including passing bonds and levies as needed.
If faced with significant revenue challenges, my strategy would be transparency with stakeholders, fiscal responsibility in spending and going to the community for support as needed
Although our results are above state averages, I am troubled by our current opportunity gaps and believe we can do better. We need to monitor test scores, graduation rates, and other data to ensure we’re moving toward better outcomes for all students. We must also listen to and support staff best able to identify barriers to success, including social workers and cultural liaisons. Together with our dedicated staff and administration, I believe we are headed in the right direction.
As a school board member, I serve as a liaison between the district and community stakeholders including parents, students, and teachers. We are a large and diverse district, and must strike a balance between a variety of needs, interests and beliefs among stakeholders. I believe we can gain understanding by offering more opportunities for input and two-way dialogue as we make important decisions. We are guided by our core values, including centering what’s best for students in all decisions.
